Welcome to our new site!
About Us
Our Philosophy
The Creator has given us so many gifts to honor and steward. Plants have so much to teach us, we only have to observe and listen. As the great botanist, agricultural scientist, and inventor George Washington Carver remarked, “Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough. Not only have I found that when I talk to the little flower or to the little peanut they will give up their secrets, but I have found that when I silently commune with people they give up their secrets also – if you love them enough.” He exemplified honoring tradition while embracing science and innovation.
Ancient Paths honors herbal traditions by working with facilities to create dietary supplements and cosmetics with modernized, yet time-tested, traditional processes. We recognize that preparing time-consuming herbal extractions (such as multi-day water decoctions) or accessing fresh plants for poultices can be difficult in our modern, urbanized lifestyle. Innovation allows these traditional preparations to be delivered in a convenient way.
Humble Beginnings
Ancient Paths began as a combination of an herbal apothecary with a bio-regional emphasis and a retailer of herbs and vintage jewelry. The SHIFT came in 2024, when Ancient Path's unique apothecary products became available in online marketplaces. Despite our online presence, we continue to set up vendor tables in central Texas and offer free and/or low-cost herbal workshops for the community.
Folk Herbalism
What is "Folk Herbalism?" Folk medicine is a system of medicinal beliefs, knowledge, and practices within a cultural or ethnic group. These techniques have been used for centuries and amassed large amounts of anecdotal evidence that support their effectiveness and safety. Some folk medicine systems have been passed down through writing (such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine), while others have continued through oral tradition (such as Native American herbal practices and Southern Folk Medicine.)
